2 Charged with Murder in Hadiya Pendleton Slaying (Honor Student Who Performed at Inauguration)

Source: Chicago Tribune

2 charged with murder in Hadiya Pendleton slaying

Staff report
6:48 p.m. CST, February 11, 2013

Two men have been charged in the shooting death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, prosecutors said.

Charged were Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, both of Chicago. The two face charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated battery with a firearm in the attack that also left two other teens wounded.

Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and other top police officials were expected to speak about the charges at the news conference at Area Central police headquarters this evening. Earlier today, McCarthy said charges were expected this evening.

"We will bring this all to closure, probably sometime this evening we're anticipating hopefully that we'll have charges," McCarthy said at a news conference with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to announce a push for stiffer jail terms for people convicted of gun crimes.

1. That poor girl

2. ...Ward told police the shooting was in retaliation

for Williams getting wounded last July...(Williams) refused to sign a complaint against those suspected in the attack...

Williams and Ward targeted Hadiya and other teens in the park Jan. 29 because they believed, mistakenly, they were members of the gang responsible for the shooting, he said. Ward fired the gun, police said.

...Hours after Hadiya's funeral, attended by first lady Michelle Obama, police stopped Ward and Williams as they were on their way in separate cars to a friend's birthday celebration at a strip club...

Genius, I tells ya -- if they didn't want to blow town, the LEAST they could have done was stay off the streets the day of the girl's damn FUNERAL. Unless, of course, the cops had already them targeted and timed the arrest for appearance's sake.

Ward and Williams are members of the Gangster Disciples, sources said.